Heart Felt

Heart Felt Christmas Day

Christmas Day was a low key event this year, which was great. We spent Christmas morning at home as a family. Charlie and Sadie opening presents, excited and happy faces.

Charlie Christmas morning




I made Sadie a fairy dress which she wore all morning. She calls herself "Dinglebell", but I think she means "Tinkerbell".

"Dinglebell"



Christmas lunch was at Uncle Neil's where Sadie explored their beautiful garden with her new doll which she calls "dancing doll".

Sadie waiting patiently in the kitchen for lunch



 
 
 The weather was warm and the afternoon was wasted away in the swimming pool ~

Testing out the new swim wear




Hope you all had a great day! xx

Painting pottery

Pot-a-doodle-do is a great little place in Carterton where you can paint your own pottery. I thought a hand painted piece by the children would make a great Christmas present for Grandma and Granddad.  

You have a choice from a wide range of bisque, both Charlie and Sadie wanted to paint a plate.  Charlie's inspiration for his piece was the 'river' and Sadie's was 'purple'.

The pottery takes a couple of days to dry before they get glazed and then fired.  The finished pieces are just lovely and they had a lot of fun creating them.  I think Grandma and Granddad will love them.

Where ever you are in this wonderful world we wish you a joy and peace with your family and friends.....love and kind thoughts from the Heart Felt family,

Ian, Jannelle, Charlie, Sadie and Oscar. xx

 

Seedlings

We don't have a garden here at our summer house in the country, which is just as well because I don't need the extra pressure with a newborn in the house. 

I must admit, I miss my vegetable garden at our old house, especially knowing that things I planted a few months back will be now producing vegetables ready for picking and harvesting.   We are fortunate the local markets here have plenty of locally grown seasonal fruit and vegetables for purchase, but you don't get the same satisfaction as growing your own.

So I'm thinking small ~ window boxes with herbs and little lettuces would be a good start.  Sadie planted some little lettuce seedlings and they seem very happy on our kitchen window sill.  

4

My baby boy turns 4 years old next week.  Sadly he has been cursed with a birthday very close to Christmas, so we celebrated his day a little early this year to relieve some pressure.  He still had a great day with a lovely chocolate cake made by Grandma.

Happy birthday Charlie boy.....you are a delight to your daddy and me.  Your bright eyes and cheeky smile make our day.  You are a loving and caring towards your siblings and we know that every year you are growing and developing into a beautiful and fine young man.  We love you very much. xx

Picnic tea party

These were taken last week while we were enjoying some sunshine.  Sadie wanted to have a tea party while Charlie wanted to have a picnic.  As a compromise we had a 'picnic tea party' on the front lawn.  

Honestly ~ I think we may have one of the best views in the Wairarapa Valley ~ it's a view that changes everyday and it up lifts my soul every morning when I get up to start my day.....it's just stunning. xx

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Looking back ~ December 2008

Some of my favorite memories from this time last year. xx 


Charlie's 3rd birthday party (my baby boy has grown up so much in 1 year!)




Sadie in awe of the Christmas lights.




Charlie cutting down the Christmas tree (poor Morgan Bear abandoned in the background)




Sadie with her Kewpie doll




Charlie and Sadie in summer grass on Christmas Day




Tora Coast








Raspberry picking

A big 'thank-you'

Well, what a week!  Oscar has settled in very well.  He's proved to be a good sleeper and has been excepted by Charlie and Sadie with lots of love into the family.  Charlie informs me he wants to be a baby again and Sadie has taken the role of my 'little helper' ~ helping with bath time, changing diapers and washing dishes. 

Ian and I have been over whelmed with your kind comments, emails and gifts ~ and we want to thank-you all for your best wishes and kindness.  Even though I haven't replied to every email and comment ~ we do appreciate and treasure every single one. Thank-you so much. xx


Me and Oscar ~ looking a bit tired, but feeling very happy.....




My peaceful little sleeper




Having a snuggle with Grandma....




Having a nibble at Grandma's ear....worth a try....




My clothes line ~ everyday.....

New Arrival

Baby Oscar born in the early hours of Friday morning ~ 20th November. All is well with mother and child. Normal delivery with no complications. They are now settling in at home with Charlie and Sadie helping out.

Biding my time

Yes, I'm still sitting here in one piece 'officially overdue'.  The kids and I have been biding our time at the river.  Not quite warm enough to go swimming yet, but somehow throwing stones into the river always turns out to be a paddle and then next thing you know it they are in ~ clothes cast a side.......  I suppose it's a nice place to sit and wait ~ but we are all getting anxious now. xx

Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll (and champagne)

My doctor doesn't always refer straight from the text book for health care ~ he has a fair respect for alternative remedies and suggestions.  For example his suggestions to bring the baby on is plenty of "Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll" (his words, not mine) Sex is self explanatory, drugs he refers to plenty of raspberry leaf tea and rock 'n' roll he refers to general physical activity like walking etc.

I took the suggestion of "rock 'n' roll" a little bit further and I have been going for rides on the back of Ian's motorbike.  It certainly brings on the Braxton Hicks and to say the least it's a lot of fun!  We have been going down the bumpy farm tracks slowly ~ just 5 minutes a day.  While out a couple of days a go we stumbled upon some wild elder trees in flower.  Last year I made some elder flower champagne for Christmas.  It was so easy and delicious I just had to make some again this year.

That afternoon I took myself away on my own, basket in hand.  It was lovely to walk and take in the beauty and contemplate how life is going to change for us once again.  While out I saw a hawk flying above scouring for small animals, a rabbit scurrying away into the blackberry bushes and a Rosella parrot flying from one tree to the next.  It was a moment of beauty, tranquility and peace to be on my own surrounded by nature and wild life.

I took just what I needed knowing that soon there will be berries to harvest for jam.





Taking a five minute breather before walking back up the farm track to the house.



I knew I had been been collecting these French lemonade bottles for a reason.  They are perfect for bottling the champagne in.  If you have considered giving it a try ~ please do, it's very easy, labor is minimal and it's absolutely delicious. You will find my recipe here. xx